thinking of treating myself to a new bow..info needed

[J Dean]

Well I am fairly new to the trad game and am curently using a 1970 Bear Kodiak Hunter 50#@28"

I am really liking the trad side of things and dont forsee using the wheels any time soon (I wont say never as that is a long time)

Anyway, I am pondering treating my self to a new or a new-to-me bow and am looking at either another recurve or maybe a longbow.  A couple of ones I ahve been looking at are a new Bear Super Kodiak, a used Dorado, and a used Bear Montana.

What I am looking for is some info on the pros and cons to a recurve or longbow?  I am not sure what the benefits are to each style of bow.  I will be using the bow for hunting.

thanks

John

[Zradix]

shoot all you can.

Everybody's tastes are different.
About all you're going to hear is what others like.

I'd say the grip is the most important thing to liking a bow.

Longer is generally easier to shoot, but can be more cumbersome in the woods.

keep an eye on the classifieds here.

It's pretty hit or miss for a while.
Hard to know what you like till you try a few....or more
I know ,I know ...catch 22 right.

fact is you can learn to shoot about any bow.
And just about every bow needs to be shot a bit differently to feel best.

The secret is to find one that likes to be shot the way you like to shoot.

Sorry I'm not more help, but these are my honest findings.

[Whip]

There are very big differences between recurves and longbows in how they shoot.  And it's not even as simple as recurve versus longbow either.  Different models of recurves will be very different from one another in the grip and feel, smoothness of draw, etc.  Same with different models of longbows.  

It is a  very personal and individual thing - nobody on here can tell you which you might prefer and which you might end up shooting better with.  By far the best would be if you were able to try a few of each.  If that is not possible I would suggest buying used bows and trying different types as you go.  With used bows you can generally get most, if not all, of what you paid if you do decide to sell it and try something else.  

That '70 Hunter was a great place to start!

[Stump_pounder]

Id say dont limit yourself  Check the classifides. on here ive seen some nice Wes Wallace ,shrews, black widows. Its a good thing I dont have some extra cash cause id have a pile of bows

[Bernie B.]

There are a lot of good bows out there to choose from.  Whether to shoot a recurve or a longbow is a very personal decision.  As Whip mentioned, different models of recurves shoot different from each other, as do longbows.  I love shooting my Martin Hunter recurve, but I also love shooting my Spirit longbow...just depends on what mood I'm in for the day.  Have fun looking!

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin

[30coupe]

You have begun what for many of us is the never ending search for "the ONE." A quick glance at the classified section here will tell you how elusive the one is. Some of us just get the itch to try a new bow on occasion (I resemble that remark!).

You can try a bunch of different styles, but no two bows will shoot exactly the same. There are just too many variables when building bows. I don't think you will find a bowyer who would guarantee he could build you two identical bows that would shoot identically.

Try as many as you can, but the search is part of the fun. One advantage to buying used bows is that you can usually resell them without taking a huge loss. Often times you will only be out the shipping. I've bought, sold and traded a bunch. I can't say that I've ever made any money on them, but I did break even a time or two. The best part is I've gotten to shoot some great bows. Many of them just didn't fit me for one reason or another, or I just lusted for another and had to trade.

Welcome aboard! Hope you find one that suits you. I like longbows best, but your mileage may vary.

[Plumber]

I would say none of them you can get a nice used custom here on tradgang for a great price an in most cases a better built bow good luck.

[J Dean]

Thanks guys.  
I want to clarify I wasn't limiting myself to those bows listed.  Those are just a couple I had been pondering.  What I really am trying to learn is what are the subtle differences between the two types?  Do recurve pull easier or harder than longbows? Which seems to be more accepting and forgiving with form?  Things of that nature.  

Thanks
john

[BowHuntingFool]

Those are all great bows you listed, what works for some doesn't for others... I learned to shoot on a Montana, taught myself with help and a ton of questions right here in the Pow Wow.... great bows...killed my first trad deer with it, complete pass thru and stuck in the ground!
I have been strictly a Longbow shooter....looking at picking up a recurve...just cuz! I have found a longer bow, for me is smooth and a bit more forgiving, not in all cases! I also find a Longbow has less hand shock...with the bows I shoot, NO handshock!    

[TDHunter]

All good choices .  I will say i'v'e been a trad guy for 20+ years and love a nice wood custom bow and to my delight I picked up a Dorado of Trad gang thinking it would just be a wet weather bow and fishing bow, but I love my Dorado. I have a 30" draw and it's smooth, quiet, fast and fits the had like a glove. Great bow.

[Stinger]

"What I really am trying to learn is what are the subtle differences between the two types? Do recurve pull easier or harder than longbows? Which seems to be more accepting and forgiving with form? Things of that nature."

I think Whip had the answer.  It is a very individual thing.  There aren't any simple and fast rules of thumb that work for everyone.  Some bows that feel great to me are just terrible for the next guy and vice-versa.  That is one of the reasons you see so many trading hands on the classifieds.  I know some folks that won't shoot anything but a Hill style longbow.  I can't shoot those things to save my life, but have found a couple of reflex-deflex longbows that shoot very well for me.  I use to think that a short recurve was very unforgiving of form errors and were just too twitchy to shoot - this goes back to the late 60's when the first Bear Kodiak Magnums and the short Brownings came out.  They were just terrible to shoot - for me. But, I have a 57" RER that shoots just fine - for me.

For me, I have found that the grip and the physical weight of the bow have the biggest impact on whether I like a bow or not.  Next would be how smooth it draws.  You can learn to shoot most anything with enough practice.  I still have the Shakespeare Necheda that I shot my first deer with and I know that when I was 15 I could shoot 1 inch circles all day from 30 yards in with it.  Today, I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with that thing.  I find it stacks a lot, has a lot of hand shock and just feels bad compared to some of my other bows.  

The common advice on here is to try and go to a shoot and try out as many bows as you can.  I'm guessing there aren't a lot of shoots up where you live in Ontario, so Whip's advice about trying a few bows off the classifieds is a good one.  I did get to both the Baltimore and Denton Hill shoots this past year and made it a point to try every bow I could at both shows.  I made a list and marked each bow for it's characteristics.  I now have a list of a whole bunch of bows that I know I don't want, but I have a shorter list of bows I would like to try.  I have had very successful dealings on the classifieds here and have been able to flip bows easily that didn't work out for me. Just starting out, I would try a couple of recurves - try a high-med grip and a low grip and a one-piece (they will be lighter), and a takedown.  Maybe try a shorter one and a longer one.  I would then try a hill style longbow with a straight grip and then a mild-med reflex-deflex longbow with a locator grip.  Different bow lengths here will make a difference as well.  I don't think a short longbow has any advantages except maybe in a pop up blind and wouldn't recommend them, but that's just me.  Try one at 62" and another at 66".